Liberty doesn't need to be granted, it exists because we are self aware. It is an extension of our conciousness and self worth.
You are right. Liberty is not granted. It's fought for, bled for and died for. It doesn't happen because you are "self aware."
Animals fight and bleed and die. Animals do not fight wars and animals do not fight for ideas. We do however and one reason we do is because we are aware of those ideas.
There is one reason why we are self aware of this and animals aren't.